Children without jobs

Blue22

merlin68 wrote: »

I looked it up last night for a friend in the same situation. They would be expected to pay about £10 a week hb and council tax out of their benefits. You need to look up the non dependant deductions for your circumstances.

Sorry to disagree but the non dependent deduction would be £0 for an under 25 on IB JSA. It would be £7.40 for a non dependent over 25.

thorsoak

Encourage both your children to take ANY job that is on offer whilst looking for their careers - it means that their CV is a little more than just their educational achievements.

If they are unable to get work, then whatever they get as Jobseekers' allowance should be allocated in such a way as to make their contribution towards the general housekeeping - if they move out, they would still have to find living expenses out of whatever they receive from benefits. Show them the figures - they can then work out for themselves just how much is required to be put back into the family pot.

Good luck!

RAS

RAS wrote: »

JSA

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it covers living expenses - food and utilities.

sh1305 wrote: »

Do many adult children living at home pay for their own food and utilities?

They pay board to their parents, do they not?

I appreciate that some wealthier parents fail to ask their children to contribute to household expenses, but it does not seem to be an option in this case.

I also apprecaite that some of the youunger posters on DFW call their (minor) contribution to the household "rent", but when we are talking benefits, it may be better to be clear what the benefit is actually paid for.

jennyfive

I think you're going to need to have a frank discussion with them that now they're adults, you can't afford nor be expected to pay for everything.

I'm 23 and I still live with my parents because moving out's currently too expensive for me (though hoping that will change this year). I pay for most of my own food and utilities and do favours for my parents like the shopping and giving my mum lifts as she doesn't drive.

If your children need to remain at home for now, basically they'll have to pull their own weight. What you've said to us in the original post needs to be said to them.

Re. them getting jobs - It is possible to get a job nowadays, it just takes sheer determination of being out every day handing out CVs to local shops and businesses and taking advantage of relationships with people who could get them jobs (I got my current job through my college lecturer). Until then they should look into Jobseekers... though being on Jobseekers should be looked on as a temp measure.

Jowo_2

jennie65 wrote: »

So if the Landlord (the guy I currently rent the property from) re does the tenancy to rent to all 3 of us at £250 each then they could claim whatever Housing benefit they needed to cover that.

Merlin68s response on this is a good one, which is to continue with the existing tenancy and update your HB claim which should only change modestly, if at all, in your circumstances. Do model this scenario on the Turn2us online benefit calculator which will show you if there's any impact when they leave college, including a reduction in tax credits if you get them and the loss of child benefit.

Just for info sake, please be aware that LHA only provides the shared accommodation rate for those under the age of 25 anyway (which will be increased to 35 and the rate to calculate LHA will change in the future from the 50th percentile of market rents (i.e. average local rent) to the 30th percentile (bottom third of local rents).

karenx

Sorry to sound harsh, but you knew this day would come one day. What have you done to prepare for it?

morganedge

Is there not a way where they could both claim jobseekers allowance and housing benefit themselves, dividing the rent between the 3 of you?

Jowo_2

morganedge wrote: »

Is there not a way where they could both claim jobseekers allowance and housing benefit themselves, dividing the rent between the 3 of you?

Again, I apologise if I am potentially confusing the issue as I'm not sure if it applies in the scenario that people keep suggesting (that the OPs children become tenants of the landlord), but there are rules in place to prevent the exploitation of the housing benefit system that could affect this scenario. I am not an expert in this area.

"If you have been living with someone as a non-dependant, and you set up a joint liability with them, you may be refused HB. This is because you are not allowed to set up a joint liability just to take advantage of HB. ...Non-dependants are people like grown-up sons or daughters ...

If you have previously been living with someone as a non-dependant, you cannot get HB as long as that person still lives in the same dwelling."

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/housing-benefit/

Looks to me that the proposal for the landlord to issue tenancies to her son and daughter will not result in a successful HB claim for them, she simply needs to update all the relevant benefit depts about her change in circumstances and review if she wants them to contribute towards household expenses from their JSA.

RAS

morganedge wrote: »

Is there not a way where they could both claim jobseekers allowance and housing benefit themselves, dividing the rent between the 3 of you?

The problem with this (apart from persuading the LL to grant joint tenancy to the children), is that if either of the children leave and give notice to the LL, then all three of them have to leave.

See Tulip09's early posts on here to see what this means.

jennie65

I am certainly not expecting them NOT to get jobs, I as a single parent have always worked full time, and expect them to do the same. I do not know how the benefit system works as I only have used tax credits up till now. Which is invalubale in helping us pay our rather expensive rent. I am concerned about them being able to walk striaght into work as I cant even affor one month of the rent with out the help of the child benefit and the tax credits so when we lose it we are screwed. The kids are happy to work but again are concerned that if they cant find work what then.
Laura was going to go to Uni but has changed her mind, and am sure its because she knows the financial burden would be too much when we need her to work so badly. Ive told her to go and that i will downsize to a smaller house and sleep on the couch when she is home. Their future is what is important and not making them homeless is a priority right now and i am not sure how to do that once I lose the tax credits and child benefit.

Its all very well some of you making jokes - walk a mile people. I work very hard at my job always have. But i cant earn enough for 2 and being on my own is a life choice, after one violent marriage was not prepared to there again.